Washington (CNN) - The Obama administration said Saturday the extended debate over increasing the federal debt ceiling took too long, and involved too much political squabbling.

"The bipartisan compromise on deficit reduction was an important step in the right direction," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. "Yet, the path to getting there took too long and was at times too divisive. We must do better to make clear our nation's will, capacity and commitment to work together to tackle our major fiscal and economic challenges."
Carney's statement comes the day after the rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded America's credit rating. S&P cited the country's charged political climate as a contributing factor to the downgrade.

Carney said that going forward, Republicans and Democrats needed to work together to reassure the world of the United States' credit worthiness.

"Over the coming weeks the President will strongly encourage the bipartisan fiscal committee as well as all members of Congress to put our common commitment to a stronger recovery and a sounder long-term fiscal path above our political and ideological differences," Carney said.

soundoff(14 Responses)

Larry L

The President offered compromise significant enough to avoid down-grading the bond values, including substantial cuts to entitlement programs – a sacred cow in politics. The Republicans held America hostage to prevent increasing taxes to get needed revenue – to protect the wealthiest Americans and put the burden on the middle class. They ended up with a deal that neither prevented down-grading of our bond rating nor required the very rich to contribute a dime. Any thinking person will place the blame on our decline directly where it belongs – on the gutless Republicans and their Tea Party radicals.

August 6, 2011 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

S&P will not play a part in the "collateral damage" Rethugs/Tea baggers have inflicted upon the American people while their target is President Obama. S&P has made it very clear by letting the World know these politicians don't give a darn about the economy they only care about blaming the President and that has proven to be a very costly and dangerous game.

August 6, 2011 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |

Joan

The Super Committee has a lot on its shoulders. Hopefully it will include the Gang of Six members because they all have worked hard on a deal and know the background of every issue. Other committee's results should also be taken into account. Also, they need to listen to the American people who strongly say in polls that they want cuts and revenues. The S&P strongly suggested this too. S&P also cited the main reason for the downgrading was the lack of confidence in the US congressional system. If the bickering, partisanship,hostage taking and lack of compromise continue, then the rating will probably go down again. The Republicans, particularly the Tea Party, need to be held accountable for the whole debt ceiling debacle. Divisive, arrogant and stubborn politicians such as Cantor and his friends should not be on the new committee because it will be doomed from the start. They don't know the meaning of compromise and don't seem to care if they take the country down with them. The committee needs competent, intelligent and trustorthy politicians from both sides who will work for the good of the country not for ideological policies and pledges.

August 6, 2011 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

Heywood

Starting wars with unimportant third-world countries while giving fat tax breaks to the big corporations and the filthy rich is what got us here. Now the idiot Republicans led by their new TEA party masters (reminds me of Master/Blaster) won't even pay for it. Our way or the highway. Everything has a price, including your wrong/bad/stupid/ ignorant decisions. OUT YOU GO. I hope the door puts a nasty bruise on your a$$ on the way out.... .. ...don't " think" about coming back, either- we know you now.

August 6, 2011 02:00 pm at 2:00 pm |

U. S. A.

Republican-Tea Party trying to overthrow our government. Their only goal is to make President Obama a one term President. The debt ceiling has always been raised without any discussion. I hope the people that voted for the tea party are happy because you also share the blame. You also lost money from your 401k's, and will have to pay higher interest rates. Some of the towns and counties ratings will also be downgraded where you live.

August 6, 2011 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

SecedingfromTexas

One sentence in the S&P report pretty much says it all:
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"...the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to refuse any measure that would raise revenues.."

August 6, 2011 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

Hammerer

Time for the truth. The debt limit bill that was passed was wrong. The debt is out of control and the congress, with all of its wisdom, added to the debt. More Washington politicans making a bad problem worse.
The problem is that from start to finish, congress created a crisis and then proceeded to grease palms of the special interest groups that own them, as they have done for years. They increased spending and promised to cut programs someday.
The time has come to replace everyone in Washington from Obama all the way down to the least aid in both houses.

August 6, 2011 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

Ken, AZ

When is this administration and the American people going to wake up and realize that the Republican Party has no interest in "coming together" for the good of our country. Their primary, and only objective, is to defeat President Obama in the 2012 election, even if it destroys our country in the interim.

August 6, 2011 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

Sgt Schultz

Shame on the GOP for pushing to cut Social Security and entitlements that I paid for with MY tax $....rather than ask their Corporatist masters and Big $ donors to pay their fair share. Instead the Republican creeps bait and switch by saying oh don't burden the "job creators" and let them have their loopholes, 3% Bush tax cuts, and other special perks. In fact some millionaires and corporations don't pay ANY tax by manipulating the tax code with armies of tax attorneys and special interest lobbyists.

August 6, 2011 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

Howard

The time has long past for The President's soaring rhetoric! There is only one thing that the Republicans understand and that is returning their bullying tactics and playing hard ball! The President has got to stop being a gentleman because he is dealing with high priced street thugs! If he does not Man Up he is going to lose his office and that would be a tragedy because anything is better than a continuation of DUBWA policies! When he asks the Republicans to listen , debate and comprimise their answer is "Bend down and grab your ankles & we will show you comprimise!"

August 6, 2011 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

T'sah from Virginia

Sorry President Obama – it does not matter how hard you try to get BOTH sides to work together – the number one mission on the Republicans side is to make you a one-term President...................PERIOD!!! We were slowly "recovering" until January, 2011, when the Republicans took over and ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!!

Just keep in mind – Mr. President – Boehner already PRAISED and claimed he got 98% of what he wanted – This is what the RIGHT wanted all along and they GOT IT!! In this case, it will backfire in their face!!!

August 6, 2011 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

Hot Dog

The President is telling the truth about that. Once again, divisive politics and these racisit politicans do not serve the best interest of the country. The global community is noticing to the great divide that currently exist in our country. These same politicians that have created the pollitical and racial divide in this country call themselves Christians. They seem to think that people are not aware of their tactics. Boehner, McConnel and Cantor that's exactly what they are- – REDNECKS!

August 6, 2011 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |

DENNA

Too divisive? Ya think? One would think that the Tea Party has crowned themselves 'King of America". They were not willing to compromise even an inch. Seriously, don't these heathens even understand that OTHER PEOPLE LIVE HERE TOO? Since the Tea Party members have money to travel around and rabble rouse, they must not need Social Security and Medicare. Well those of us who have worked over 40 years or more and paid for these "privileges" want what is coming to them. The Republicans and their minions are going to ruin this country. Thanks to them we have lost our AAA rating and that will cost all of us. Actually, the only good thing about this is that those Tea Party wing nuts are going to lose money on their stocks and bonds too. Served them right.

August 6, 2011 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

MAC

If you really believe that in 2018 to 2021 that the government will cut spending , you probably would not pass a drug test or are in LALA Land. The spending cuts need to be front loaded for them to really happen. Also the we need to keep with the 3 dollars in cuts for every dollar in tax increase.